Answer the reading questions that relate to your chapter, prepare a plot summary of the chapter, discuss any characters that appear in the chapter, consider themes, and highlight and share any key passages. These will be the points of discussion in group conversations. Prepare to have these conversations on the discussion day. These materials should be ready to turn in during class on the date indicated. ()
Each personmust turn in their own typed set of questions/answers along with the plot summaries, character arc, etc.
IN ORDER TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET OF QUESTIONS GROUP MEMBERS WILL HAVE TO E-MAIL EACH OTHER THE ANSWERS AND MERGE DOCUMENTS
PRIOR TO THE ASSIGNMENT BEING DUE.
Questions
1. What was Sinclair’s intention in writing The Jungle? How was the impact different than he anticipated?
Sinclair's intention was to write a book as an argument for socialism and less as an expose of the meat industry. He says, "I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach."
He also wrote the book to “call into question the bases of the system: the ethic of individualism, which turned the urban landscape into a savage place, a jungle” (ix). 2. Why is this called a “protest novel” in the Introduction?
It's called a "protest novel" because of the fact that it exposured the intolerable working and living conditions in the city of Chicago. It is meant to expose the Packingtown and general life of an immigrant to the world, hopefully in order to bring some type of reform in unions or other measures. 3. What impact did the book have when it was released?
“The book had made him [Sinclair] a famous public figure overnight. He became something of an American institution, a one-man reform movement and radical crusader” In simple turns the impact was huge. 4. What criticisms does the Introduction writer offer of the book? Be specific!
The introduction writer, Morris Dickstein suggests that The Jungle is a historical document, “Few critics take the book or its author seriously anymore”, “The Jungle is considered agitation rather than art.” “Sinclair went down in history as a muckraker, a talented progressive journalist and reformer with no literacy technique whatsoever.” 5. What was the ultimate importance of the book? What is its message?
The ultimate importance of the book is to expose the working conditions of workers in the early American 20th century. It exposes the horrific lives people had to face in order to be successful. It exposes the “Political Machine” within Chicago, and tries to explain its significance. Its message is to explain and poke at the American capitalism system during the turn of the century. 6. ID the following: Mike Scully: Rich Democratic Politician who is the boss of the town Bubbly Creek: another name for the Chicago river (since it was polluted by so much waste) Packingtown: this refers to the stockyards and meat producing plants within the City of Chicago Dr. Schliemann:a Socialist speaker, gave Jurgis an explanation about socialism and its philosophy. Tommy Hinds: He owns Hinds (a hotel) and hired Jurgis to be his porter. He is also a leading figure in the Socialist party. Madame Haupt:a dutch midwife which Jurgis calls upon to help the birth of Ona’s baby. Unforunatley Madame Haupt is unsuccessful at the delivery and both Ona and the newborn die. Jack Duane: the criminal whom Jurgis meets while in jail twice. The two become cronies in the same gang after they leave the second time. Duane is Jurgis's pathway into the world of corruption. 7. Why did Jurgis and Ona come to America?
They came to America because it seemed so enticing the way Jonas described it. Ona's father had died, thus leaving the family in debt, and they lost the farm. By coming to America they thought there would be higher wages and Jonas described one of his friend's as being well-off. So Jugris made enough money to pay for the voyage to America. 8.In what ways does Sinclair take capitalism to task in the process of Jurgis “buying” a house?
Well when Jurgis and Ona bought the house they weren't told about how they used the cheapest materials they could get a hold of, and most importantly they weren't told about the interest rates that they had to pay for. This is just what the government does to its citizens, who do not know better, just like Jurgis and Ona. 9.How does Jurgis end up in jail?How does Sinclair compare the factory where Jurgis works with the cell
where he spends time? How long does he stay in jail? Why is he blacklisted?
Jurgis is sent to jail twice, once because he attacks Phil Connor after raping his wife and thus ends up in jail.But later after he gets into a fight with the bartender and he is put in jail for ten days. He stays in jail for a month. Jurgis ends up staying three days longer in jail because he couldn't pay "court costs." He is blacklisted because, Connor has high influences and didn't want Jurgis to get a job after what he did to him. A job is the most important thing an immigrant has and not to have one would be worse than being in jail. Jurgis compares the jails directly to the working conditions in the factories. Both smell terrible, and both have an appalling environment. 10. How is Jurgis injured on the job?What happens to him?Where does he work after that? Describe the
conditions.
Jurgis was working and an animal got loose and when he jumped to get out of the way he turned his ankle. From there it got much worse and he had to tell the boss that he was unalbe to work. He was sent home.
He is in bed for three weeks and then tries to go back to work, but the pain doesn't stop and he works like this for days until he faints because of the pain he feels. So they call the doctor and he tells Jurgis that he twisted a tendon out of place. He then puts it back into place and tells him he has to lie in bed for two months and that if he goes to work before that, "he might lame himself for life." When he wants to go back to his old job at Brown's, he is told that the foreman wasn't "able" to hold his job.
After that, he works at the fertilizer plant. That place was the lowest it could get. It was all of the waste of the animals including the blood and bones. They had to shovel the fertilizer into carts. A huge amount dust was inhaled and caked all over his body. It smelled terrible and the conditions made him vomit. 11. What causes Jurgis to begin his life of wandering? What jobs does he have after returning from his
wanderings? List them in order.
Jurgis starts to wander when Antanas dies. He walks out of the house, gets on a train, and moves around the countryside with a sense of freedom that he loves. He takes the job at the fertilizer plant, begging (too sick and weak to work), works at a machinery plant, works at a steel mill.
12. Why is Jurgis sometimes referred to as “Jack?” In what ways does he suffer dehumanization?How does the socialist meeting help him to rediscover himself?
Pg 197 “Jack” was what saloonkeepers called all foreigners and unskilled men in packingtown” Jurgis has suffered many times, including working in a fertilizer plant, being accused of stealing- which resulted in a fight with a bartender. Put in jail because of the incident. When Jurgis goes to these meetings he learns so much, form the other people that are there and it just makes him realize how there are people who don't know what he knows. And then there are those who do, but do choose to ignore what he says and he finds a new calling. He feels like he needs to let others know about how they are being manipulated so that they could free themselves and join the cause.
13 Why did Schliemann consider himself a “philosopher anarchist?” What was The Appeal? What important realization did Jurgis have as a result of his contact with socialism?
Schliemann considers himself a “philosopher anarchist” because “an anarchist was one who believed that the end of human existence was the free development of every personality, unrestricted by laws save those of its own being” Pg 259, thus he believes in himself, the individual. Crawford Country, Kansas from 285 to 1,975; that was the home of the “Appeal to Reason”! (Pg 368) the numbers referring to the number to telegraphs. Jurgis believes that socialism is an answer to the misfortunes in Chicago and in packingtown. It is the answer to the hardships which immigrants and workers face every day. “Chicago the greatest opportunity that has ever come to Socialism in America!” Pg 370
Everyone Remember To:
Answer the reading questions that relate to your chapter, prepare a plot summary of the chapter, discuss any characters that appear in the chapter, consider themes, and highlight and share any key passages. These will be the points of discussion in group conversations. Prepare to have these conversations on the discussion day. These materials should be ready to turn in during class on the date indicated. ()Each person must turn in their own typed set of questions/answers along with the plot summaries, character arc, etc.
IN ORDER TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET OF QUESTIONS GROUP MEMBERS WILL HAVE TO E-MAIL EACH OTHER THE ANSWERS AND MERGE DOCUMENTS
PRIOR TO THE ASSIGNMENT BEING DUE.
Introduction- and Chapter 1 Everyone reads and answers questions 1-5
2-Abe
3-Natalie
4-Jack
5-Caroline
6-Aracely
7-Phil
8-Abe
9-Natalie
10-Jack
11-Caroline
12-Aracely
13-Phil
14-Abe
15-Natalie
16-Jack
17-Caroline
18-Aracely
19-Phil
20-Abe
21-Natalie
22-Jack
23-Caroline
24-Aracely
25-Phil
26-Abe
27-Natalie
28-Jack
29-Caroline
30-Aracely
CHAPTER 31- EVERYONE
Questions
1. What was Sinclair’s intention in writing The Jungle? How was the impact different than he anticipated?
Sinclair's intention was to write a book as an argument for socialism and less as an expose of the meat industry. He says, "I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach."
He also wrote the book to “call into question the bases of the system: the ethic of individualism, which turned the urban landscape into a savage place, a jungle” (ix).
2. Why is this called a “protest novel” in the Introduction?
It's called a "protest novel" because of the fact that it exposured the intolerable working and living conditions in the city of Chicago. It is meant to expose the Packingtown and general life of an immigrant to the world, hopefully in order to bring some type of reform in unions or other measures.
3. What impact did the book have when it was released?
“The book had made him [Sinclair] a famous public figure overnight. He became something of an American institution, a one-man reform movement and radical crusader” In simple turns the impact was huge.
4. What criticisms does the Introduction writer offer of the book? Be specific!
The introduction writer, Morris Dickstein suggests that The Jungle is a historical document, “Few critics take the book or its author seriously anymore”, “The Jungle is considered agitation rather than art.” “Sinclair went down in history as a muckraker, a talented progressive journalist and reformer with no literacy technique whatsoever.”
5. What was the ultimate importance of the book? What is its message?
The ultimate importance of the book is to expose the working conditions of workers in the early American 20th century. It exposes the horrific lives people had to face in order to be successful. It exposes the “Political Machine” within Chicago, and tries to explain its significance. Its message is to explain and poke at the American capitalism system during the turn of the century.
6. ID the following:
Mike Scully: Rich Democratic Politician who is the boss of the town
Bubbly Creek: another name for the Chicago river (since it was polluted by so much waste)
Packingtown: this refers to the stockyards and meat producing plants within the City of Chicago
Dr. Schliemann:a Socialist speaker, gave Jurgis an explanation about socialism and its philosophy.
Tommy Hinds: He owns Hinds (a hotel) and hired Jurgis to be his porter. He is also a leading figure in the Socialist party.
Madame Haupt:a dutch midwife which Jurgis calls upon to help the birth of Ona’s baby. Unforunatley Madame Haupt is unsuccessful at the delivery and both Ona and the newborn die.
Jack Duane: the criminal whom Jurgis meets while in jail twice. The two become cronies in the same gang after they leave the second time. Duane is Jurgis's pathway into the world of corruption.
7. Why did Jurgis and Ona come to America?
They came to America because it seemed so enticing the way Jonas described it. Ona's father had died, thus leaving the family in debt, and they lost the farm. By coming to America they thought there would be higher wages and Jonas described one of his friend's as being well-off. So Jugris made enough money to pay for the voyage to America.
8. In what ways does Sinclair take capitalism to task in the process of Jurgis “buying” a house?
Well when Jurgis and Ona bought the house they weren't told about how they used the cheapest materials they could get a hold of, and most importantly they weren't told about the interest rates that they had to pay for. This is just what the government does to its citizens, who do not know better, just like Jurgis and Ona.
9. How does Jurgis end up in jail? How does Sinclair compare the factory where Jurgis works with the cell
where he spends time? How long does he stay in jail? Why is he blacklisted?
Jurgis is sent to jail twice, once because he attacks Phil Connor after raping his wife and thus ends up in jail.But later after he gets into a fight with the bartender and he is put in jail for ten days. He stays in jail for a month. Jurgis ends up staying three days longer in jail because he couldn't pay "court costs." He is blacklisted because, Connor has high influences and didn't want Jurgis to get a job after what he did to him. A job is the most important thing an immigrant has and not to have one would be worse than being in jail. Jurgis compares the jails directly to the working conditions in the factories. Both smell terrible, and both have an appalling environment.
10. How is Jurgis injured on the job? What happens to him? Where does he work after that? Describe the
conditions.
Jurgis was working and an animal got loose and when he jumped to get out of the way he turned his ankle. From there it got much worse and he had to tell the boss that he was unalbe to work. He was sent home.
He is in bed for three weeks and then tries to go back to work, but the pain doesn't stop and he works like this for days until he faints because of the pain he feels. So they call the doctor and he tells Jurgis that he twisted a tendon out of place. He then puts it back into place and tells him he has to lie in bed for two months and that if he goes to work before that, "he might lame himself for life." When he wants to go back to his old job at Brown's, he is told that the foreman wasn't "able" to hold his job.
After that, he works at the fertilizer plant. That place was the lowest it could get. It was all of the waste of the animals including the blood and bones. They had to shovel the fertilizer into carts. A huge amount dust was inhaled and caked all over his body. It smelled terrible and the conditions made him vomit.
11. What causes Jurgis to begin his life of wandering? What jobs does he have after returning from his
wanderings? List them in order.
Jurgis starts to wander when Antanas dies. He walks out of the house, gets on a train, and moves around the countryside with a sense of freedom that he loves. He takes the job at the fertilizer plant, begging (too sick and weak to work), works at a machinery plant, works at a steel mill.
12. Why is Jurgis sometimes referred to as “Jack?” In what ways does he suffer dehumanization? How does the socialist meeting help him to rediscover himself?
Pg 197 “Jack” was what saloonkeepers called all foreigners and unskilled men in packingtown” Jurgis has suffered many times, including working in a fertilizer plant, being accused of stealing- which resulted in a fight with a bartender. Put in jail because of the incident. When Jurgis goes to these meetings he learns so much, form the other people that are there and it just makes him realize how there are people who don't know what he knows. And then there are those who do, but do choose to ignore what he says and he finds a new calling. He feels like he needs to let others know about how they are being manipulated so that they could free themselves and join the cause.
13 Why did Schliemann consider himself a “philosopher anarchist?” What was The Appeal? What important realization did Jurgis have as a result of his contact with socialism?
Schliemann considers himself a “philosopher anarchist” because “an anarchist was one who believed that the end of human existence was the free development of every personality, unrestricted by laws save those of its own being” Pg 259, thus he believes in himself, the individual. Crawford Country, Kansas from 285 to 1,975; that was the home of the “Appeal to Reason”! (Pg 368) the numbers referring to the number to telegraphs. Jurgis believes that socialism is an answer to the misfortunes in Chicago and in packingtown. It is the answer to the hardships which immigrants and workers face every day. “Chicago the greatest opportunity that has ever come to Socialism in America!” Pg 370